March 26th, 2018(Nyamilepedia) — The Intergovernmental Authorities on Development(IGAD) decides today in its 61st Extraordinary session of IGAD Council of Ministers that the South Sudan’s former Vice President, Dr. Riek Machar, should be released from house arrest in South Africa and be relocated to another country that does not close borders with South Sudan.
According to the IGAD communiques, the house arrest would be “lifted as soon as possible”, however, with two conditions that Machar must renounce violence and must commite to not obstruct the peace process that may follow.
“Decides the house arrest of SPLM/IO Leader Dr Riak Machar be lifted as soon as possible, on conditions that ensure he will renounce violence and not obstruct the peace process”
If Machar and his rebel group, the SPLM/A(IO), accept the preconditions, the chairman would be allowed to relocate to any other country but not any of the countries neighboring his country, South Sudan.
“…and he be allowed to relocate to any country outside the region and are not neighboring South Sudan; designated IGAD Ministers will propose and decide a possible location”
Although it is yet to be clarified, Machar’s relocation could just be a change of venue but not a change of his current house-arrest status.
The 61st Extra Ordinary Session was organized under the Chairmanship of H.E Hirut
Zemene, State Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Federal Democratic
Republic of Ethiopia representing the Chairperson of IGAD Council of
Ministers.
The Session was attended by the South Sudan Minister of Foreign Affairs, Martin Elia Lomuro, Hon. Ababu Namwamba, the Chief Administrative Secretary for Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Kenya and Hon Oryem Henry Okello, Minister of State for Foreign
Affairs/ International Affairs of the Republic of Uganda among other foreign affairs Ministers.
Participation of South Sudan in IGAD meetings was protested by the oppositions during the last round of the Revitalization Forum in February, however, Kiir’s administration remains full represented in the IGAD Council which gives the government an upper hand in the negotiation of peace process.
The Council has expressed extreme concern over flagrant violation of the CoHA by the SPA-IG troops in Nasir in February as reported by CTSAMM but not conclusive punitive action was decided upon.
“Expresses extreme concern on the report submitted by CTSAMM on
flagrant violations of the CoHA by the SPLA-IG troops in the Nassir
area, on 12th of February 2018” Reads part of the report.
1 comment
Dear ones, it should be known by now that confinement of Machar is not the solution in fact it is the problem. You wouldn’t make any move successful without him being apart of it. This is my take on it and my understanding is sure although you have your own opinion on it. Yes, thanks you so much IGAD countries for that decision that you are lifting up the condition even though there are more string attach to it. May be you get a sense of understanding that his absence of Machar would generate much more crisis. It seems to me that inspection is not clear enough from your eyes. should you see the real problem that exist without Machar presence, why don’t you ask yourselves why problem exist even though machar consider agent is isolated? Who do you think keep the fighting on when you make a decision base on this matter, shouldn’t you evaluate it well enough with your understanding? Yes, I know there is a mess to be cleaned up and you are the one who will do that, not out of compulsory but your willingness to solve the situation because you make it a priority.